San Diego State QB O'Connell to have thumb surgery

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State junior quarterback Kevin
O'Connell will undergo surgery on Monday to repair ligament damage
in his right thumb sustained in a season-opening loss to Texas-El
Paso.

Coach Chuck Long wasn't sure how long O'Connell will be out.

"We feel bad for Kevin, but he will be back and we are hopeful
that he will be able to return this season," Long said Saturday.

O'Connell was hurt in Thursday night's 34-27 loss to UTEP.

Sophomore Darren Mougey will start in SDSU's next game, at
Wisconsin on Sept. 16.

Mougey came on Thursday night with the Aztecs trailing 27-3
midway through the third quarter and led them on three straight
scoring drives, including two touchdown runs to pull SDSU to 27-24.
He was intercepted to end the Aztecs' rally.